Only 60,000 Palestinians perform Ramadan prayers at Al-Aqsa as Israel restricts entry to Jerusalem

LONDON: Only 60,000 Palestinians performed the evening and Taraweeh prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem on Monday, the 10th day of Ramadan, as Israeli authorities restrict entry to the occupied city.

This was 20,000 fewer than the 80,000 who performed the Taraweeh prayer at the mosque the previous Monday, according to the Jerusalem Waqf and Al-Aqsa Mosque Affairs Department, which is responsible for administering the site. Most of the 60,000 worshippers this week came from Jerusalem or were Palestinians living in Israel.

Israeli authorities have introduced restrictive measures during Ramadan that bar thousands of Palestinians from the occupied West Bank from entering Jerusalem through Israeli military checkpoints. They announced last week that they will limit access to Al-Aqsa on the Fridays during Ramadan to men over the age of 55, women who are 50 or older, and children up to the age of 12. All of those entering the city are subject to security screening and require permits.

Last week, 90,000 Palestinians prayed at the mosque on the first Friday of Ramadan, and Israeli forces deployed 3,000 troops to the Old City. In previous years, up to 200,000 people have worshipped at the mosque on the first Friday of the holy month.